Thursday, December 27, 2007

成功男人背后的女人

you cannot imagine the power of that statement...

just makes you (me) want to be a better man. =)

today's wedding i didn't do express, so can blog here about... ideals. =)

Christmas wishes

A feeble, late, BUT SINCERE christmas wish to everyone out there:

Merry Christmas and may all your wishes come true!!!

it's an oversaid line, but to elaborate further, for wishes to come true, don't stop dreaming!

Ok now.. back to work!

Sunday, December 23, 2007

weiyang . jaslyn

earlier today....

i am SHACK but happy. =)

(click on image for slideshow)



ok gotta rush off to their ROM before dinner soon. =)

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Eric and his theories.

Over breakfast today, Eric had a revelation.

I gave him an example saying, say I decided to quit photography and be a graphic designer (it'll be a cold day in hell b4 that happens, but it's just an example!), but the graphic design firm used macs.

Should I spend 80% of my pay in that new job to buy myself a PC to use at work becos i hate macs and love PCs?

His answer was YES.

Suddenly the birds flying around starting making alot of noises.. i swore it sounded like laughter.

Wedding Slideshows

Forgot to mention that I've written a page with a selection of wedding slideshows here:

Wedding Slideshows

It is also linked from the navigation bar on the right.

=)

Thursday, December 20, 2007

December is like a water tank on stilts...

while it's pouring monsoon rains.

and the stilts are bowing to the weight above, but refusing to give way.

every december i come out stronger, this will be no exception.

YEEHAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

now, where's my ventolin? (i'm not even asthmatic...)

Monday, December 17, 2007

anson . yen li

Trivia:

Did you know expressively jOhO had not shot at fullerton hotel before until december 2007 where he has not one, not two, but three weddings there that month?????

So this is the second couple, in straits room (i haven't shot the ballroom yet, the first couple was steven and janice, see post below, and that was on the roof).

when it rains, it pours. this is good rain, i am kinda beginning to like that hotel. not just becos it's "the fullerton" but there are quite a few 5 stars hotels that i think are the pits (for weddings anyway, and not just for photography).

ANYWAYZ...

i only met anson and yen li in person a few days before their wedding as they're based in hongkong. and i'd say it was worth the wait, lovely couple, and i kept telling eric, WAH LAU she's got a great figure!!!!!!!! ahhaha... why? photographer cannot compliment the bride ar?

here we go, click on image for slideshow:



i'm back to black and white. hehehehehheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Sunday, December 16, 2007

steven . janice

Just in case some pple think i'm colour blind as my last few slideshows are in b/w, here's one to dispel that myth! =P

congrats to you steven and janice, it was such a beautful night!

click image for slideshow:

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Where should I go for Bridal shoots in Aug 08? Part 2

Greece is looking good now. In particular, Santorini. We might extend the trip to other nearby parts/countries.. but for now, my dream of going there is slowly coming true!

A distiguished local wedding photographer and I are discussing about a joint promotion to go there in Aug 2008. So anyone who wants any kind of shoots there, please let me know!!!

yes, i mentioned any kind of shoots, you don't have to be getting married to take photographs there... =)

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Where should I go for Bridal shoots in Aug 08?

Not the best time to be thinking about this since i'm in the middle of the busiest month for weddings, but:

1. Australia (again!)
2. Ko Samui
3. Phuket
4. Bali (go there and look for kelvin and yuhsin hahaha)
5. Europe
6. Carribean Islands....

ok that last one is quite tough. have a friend working there and can do quite alot of the planning for me, but it's gonna be... EXTREMELY COSTLY.

I think ko samui won't be cheap either but i have lobangs there. hehehe...

as for europe.. i may want to attend the MPA awards in London next year, but then i think that's in sep, if that's the case i prob won't go cos er.. i'm gonna be quite booked in sep next year...

ok back to work.

Monday, December 03, 2007

james . regina

December is... a great month for weddings!!! See, I'm optimistic.

Here are the day time highlights of James and Regina's wedding. Had a great time!!!

click image for slideshow:

Sunday, November 25, 2007

James Blunt - amazing...

really do love his songs and videos...


James Blunt - 1973



James Blunt - High (original video)



James Blunt - High (new video)


the new video of "High" is just... amazing! so simple in concept but... just great...

Friday, November 23, 2007

MSN crack up...

was talking to silk on msn and:

Eithyn says:
wah
mm
i have an idea! (for photoshoot)
floaty stuff!

eJ - AMPA!!!!!! says:
u mean blow u up with air and get u on the water?

Eithyn says:
o_o
that's be cool

eJ - AMPA!!!!!! says:
i can volunteer to blow u
oh hmm
that didn't come out right

Eithyn says:
LOL

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

From a wedding photographer's heart.

Mine, that is.

Eric this is for you! =)

To think that one of the most important persons in my career gets mentioned so little in my blog, so that's gotta change now.

Firstly, Eric isn't gay. not that i know of anyway.

OK now that that's out of the way...

Over the months, I have shared so many things with you. and if i may even attempt to recap what was said, this would be it.

We are humans first, photographers second. Humans feel, and by certain standards, it is what defines us separate from animals. And then we shoot what we feel. I think alot of photographers "forget" that they are human, and get consumed by photography. that is the biggest wrong any photographer can do, is to let photography get bigger than, well, humanity.

You walk into an empty church full of flowers and ribbons. It is a beautiful sight and you have to shoot it, not just because it is beautiful, but because the bride would certainly like a record on the money she spent. So you stand there for half a minute composing the best shot of the interior.

Suddenly this really cute little girl in her flower girl white dress comes out of one of the pews and runs towards you with the biggest grin on her face, and you realise she saw the mother of the bride behind you, her favourite aunt, whom she hasn't seen for 2 years, and this aunt always buys her lollies (not that you would know this). you have no time to recompose, and you snap the SAME shot that you did seconds ago. Think about the power of such an image, and you didn't have to do anything different. That is what defines a powerful image. Same place, same settings, same light, same composition, RIGHT TIME. Your "photographer mentality" was to shoot an interior shot, but being human, you know instantly that her joy can't wait, but the interior can.

Being human is easy, we ARE human. Take heart in the fact that there are little girls everywhere at weddings, but for this particular little girl 20 years later, she will remember this moment with such joy, or if she was too young to remember, she'd be facinated by the story of the image told by her aunt. Imagine, you were that little girl.

There are two things that I feel defines a great photographer. One is dedication. Dedication is a very broad word to include the amount of time and effort needed to train in the craft. Reading articles, asking questions, browsing the net and magazines, seeing/analysing/copying(!) other photographer's work, shooting, reshooting, making mistakes, learning from mistakes, editing, re-editing. all these, and many other things in the aim to create better images, and getting more experience. Weddings certainly calls for more than photographic skills, you have to learn to deal with all kinds of people, you have to conduct yourself professionally, but not coldly. you have to be firm with pricing, and contract details, yet be lovable, personable and approachable. you are the person that the couple will see the most of, besides each other, on the wedding day. you are so many things at one time.

After the wedding you have deadlines to meet, images to edit, albums to complete. you have other jobs to get, close and/or deliver.

in your business as a whole, you have costs to manage, equipment needs and replacements, repairs/servicing, insurance, rent, suppliers, quality control, business development and marketing. you have an assistant that you need to type long blog entries to.

this all requires dedication. all this can be trained, and together with time and experience, will bring such a photographer quite far, but not far enough.

the second thing that makes a brilliant photographer, is talent.

i have yet to figure out if talent can be trained. i am inclined to say no. you have it, or you don't.

talent is the reason why two photographers can have an exact same path, but one has so much more powerful images than the other.

talent is the reason why he is always "lucky" to be able to get those shots. remember, i told you to learn, memorise, and know the full meaning of the word "serendipity". somehow, a talented photographer seems to have serendipity as his twin brother.

i have this simple analogy on how to describe talent. most of us are used to the phrase "we are good at what we like doing". i like driving cars, but i don't think i could be a formula 1 driver. perhaps, the statement of "we like doing what we are good at" is more apt. in this statement, dedication is akin to what we like doing (that's why we dedicate ourselves to it) and "what we are good at" is akin to.... talent! it starts with that.

you might be assuming that i have talent, or i found my talent in photography, and that is why i like doing it, because the more i do it, the better i became at it and it makes me want to do it more (remember, i like doing what i am good at). if so, your assumption is true. as proud as this might sound, i believe i am talented in photography. it is actually, believe it or not, dedication that i sometimes lack! laziness being my bane. thankfully, that can be trained!

I want to end this entry with a statement that I have been known to make, either in speech or in writing, and this is perhaps the most convicting statement that keeps my passion alive at present:

The reason for my life, is photography. It has kept me alive, and is the reason why I continue to live happily. (i might change this statement if i ever get married, but as of now, this is it....)

Thank you Eric for our journey thus far. You are the only person in this world that knows the most of my work thoroughly, my workflow, my passion, my reasons, my secrets, my style, and my personality as a photographer. I have not shared so much with anyone and it does me proud to see you growing. I wish you all the best in your photographic journey.

Remember, you are human first, photographer second.

Monday, November 19, 2007

boonseh . peisan

just got back from banyan tree bintan yesterday, boonseh and peisan got married on the golf course so it's a totally different setting from zul and aileen's, who also held their wedding at banyan tree.

i still love that place, so romantic, it's just that... the last two times i went was with guys, william then, and eric this time. next time i go, i SWEAR, it'll be with a girl!!!!

congrats boonseh and peisan, you guys, your guests, and your wedding was SO LOVELY!!!!!!!!

click image for slideshow:

Sunday, November 18, 2007

More from ixiz:u calander shoot

Just got back from bintan, will be posting up those wedding pics soon, bintan (at least banyan tree) is just.. the loveliest place for couples that's soooo near to sg...

anywayz:

Elynn




Hannah




Cordelia




Danielle




and of course, one more Summer =)



guess u can tell which two are my favourites. mind you i shot 17, it's hard to just pick one. =)

ok enuff of girls, back to wedddings.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

One more Iris

Iris

FINALLYYYYYYYYYYYYY i get to shoot her again.. after more than a year....

my skill doesn't do her beauty justice:



Photography / DI : jOhO
Assistant : Eric
Light : Ukay
Makeup / Hair : Janice



Photography / DI / Light : jOhO
Assistant : Eric
Makeup / Hair : Janice

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Summer

it's not always that i'm easily amazed, especially photographically, but today i shot someone who has never been shot "professionally" before. This was her virgin shoot.

and this is what she came up with:





of course thanx to the team:

Me - Photography / Light / DI
Eric - Assistant
May - Make up / Styling
Janice - Hair

but she was so easy to shoot...! love the make up and hair, i had a TOP TEAM! =)

like i said i'm seldom amazed, today i was. i still don't really believe it's her first time.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

james . allyson

Long delayed slideshow preview that i wanted to do for james and allyson on their actual day, but better late than never! As usual, less talk more pics!

CLICK ME for slideshow!

Monday, November 12, 2007

jonathan . catherine

Apparently she wept when she saw this after their dinner banquet today (they were outside when this slideshow was playing before the second march in).

i'd say tears of joy, and certainly hope so. even more, i am so glad to be able to bring back such emotion.

congrats to u both, blissful everlasting marriage to you!

CLICK ME for slideshow!

(Admin note: i've included links instead of embedding the object in my blog as it loads even if you don't want to view it, clogging yours and my bandwidth, so.. slideshows are going to be on a separate page from now on.)

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Bridals from yesterday

Thanx to stephen and rachel for being so organised on their PW shoot, even got driven around in a porche, and a nice dinner to end off! here's a few shots!









all clickable for larger versions.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

David Oliver Seminar

In conjunction with the MPA qualifications, David Oliver, a reknowned wedding and portrait photographer from Australia (born in England) gave us a brilliant insight to his work, and possibly, his heart. What a sincere man, and it pleases me to see that REAL photographers shoot REAL things with REAL passion. And if you think his weddings and portraits are good, wait till you see his landscapes and personal projects... amazing stuff. very very REAL.



Here's David, i just went up to him and whacked a frame while we were getting ready for a group shot, and i do hope he likes it, will be sending it to Colin who would probably forward it to him.

And below is the group shot, many of whom i have deep gratitude for, for their advice, guidance, encouragement and friendship!



click for a larger image.

Back row:
William Ng (FMPA), Jonathan Ho (AMPA), Damian Tan (AMPA), James Tan (AMPA), William Chua (LMPA), Matthew Tan (FMPA), Zhang Jingna (AMPA), Ryan Wong (FMPA), Kenneth Choo (LMPA), Eric Tan.

Front row (seated):
Albert Lam (FMPA), Linda Buck, David Oliver, Charlie Lim (FMPA), Colin Buck (Hon FMPA, CE MPA)

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Associate, Master Photographer Association

Finally, after weeks of sleepless days and night at the computer and the printer, the grading is over...

I was awarded an Associateship with the MPA after a double promotion today. I have many people to thank, especially all my couples that have had the confidence in me to shoot their weddings, allowing me for this portfolio.

Thanks go to many other important people, as credited in the slideshow below of the 38 final images selected for grading. 12 of them will be entered for the Singapore Masters competition tomorrow.







for a larger slideshow, click here.

Monday, October 29, 2007

randy . huifang

Havne't posted a b/w series for a while so here's one taken a couple of days back.

randy and hf, i FINALLY shot your wedding, after soooooooooooooo long...!!

willy, was great shooting together again, the live photocards are stuck on my monitor with bluetack already!







for a larger slideshow, click here.

Friday, October 19, 2007

EJ Selections

Was having a harrowing experience looking for all the different files on my 4 external hdd and two PCs for my MPA grading and in the middle of it all, instead of pulling out my hair and getting into a worse mood, i decided to collate the images i have so far into a slide show. mind you, selecting the song took a while, i'm not even sure it's suitable but it has a nice feel to it.

Hope you guys enjoy it, looking thru it made me believe again, that i have found out what i was born to do. i've said that b4, it's not pride, it's revelation.

even if i never ever become a good husband, i guess this is enough. yes, always on the topic of looking for a wife. ha... this blog's been around for how long? some things don't change easily.

ANYHOW, pictures please!!!!

click here.

I want to thank everyone that had been an influence in my work, especially the lovely couples that i have had the pleasure of photographing. if this pleasure stops, i will stop shooting, that is a promise.

MPA, here i come!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

perth ramblings...

i'm so sian so i thot i might grab a few of the perth pics i have processed so far and ramble about them... might cheer me up!




The two subjects in this image certainly have a strong affinity for each other. hahaha.. got there on the first day, the rest of the gang were already there, and since it was very early, my room wasn't ready for check in, so eric and i crashed in william and james' room. and this is what i found lar, natural air freshener!




william again, looking so stylo, prob cos u can't tell it's him. i just love this shot..




damian's quite expressive with his poses, and william in the background makes a good kelefe!!




a cheerful huihui, i think she was quite happy, at least on the first couple of days, we had fun waiting for the sun to come out from behind the clouds while we were shooting this.




amir looking stylo as usual. it's amazing the light u get in australia. this is DIRECT OVERHEAD SUN... look at those specular highlights.... and amir had to say it.. his skin nice mar! puiiiii




william looking slim becos of wide angle, taken at little creatures... lovely place with great beer and food. it's actually a brewery turned.. pub/diner?




wat do you get when u cross michael jordan with a camera? ukay, in fremental, on a beautiful day, jumping off god knows what that is...




eric's version this time, first he looks scared, second, he doesn't look like he has a waist level finder, so i wonder which part of "jump off and pretend to be shooting" did he not understand....




experimental shot outside coco's where we had a beautiful steak dinner. done on long exposure light painting with the same stobe going off multiple times.... COOL RIGHT????? we tried this SO MANY TIMES.. froze our nuts off. now i replaced them with fruits... juicier.




a highlight of the trip was eric's incessant kissing of whoever was next to him in group shots, as highlighted in william's blog entry here. so william took this pic for us with my camera, since it's a group shot, he should attempt to kiss me, and this is what happened. the next few frames are censored, blood and gore are R(A) rated and this blog is only P(G)....




let's just say alot of new relationships were formed from this trip. taken at little creatures again, at a different occasion. we went there three times altogether in the whole trip!




linesssssssssssssssss... or not? james' fetish for lines include those on a young caucasian boy's er... head?




ukay and dovile on the way back to the train station from carousel. can u tell who's who? =P





the "Linessssssssssssssssssssssssssss Portrait Series". James only loves lines, and i only love pple, but i thought i'd give in and try to satisfy him a bit. shiok anot bro?




i just love the mood of this shot... at first i was like.. GET LOST GUYS i wanna shoot the wall.. then i decided, hmm this is actually a better shot, dunno why man.. and.. i can't remember which train station this is liow..




yo james, the large resolution to this file is on sale, how much u gonna pay me to get this printed large?? such a cool shot of you, see, your camera got periscope to enable you to shoot the proper perspective of buildings. POWER!!!!

Bad mood!

it's not like me to be in such a foul mood to blog about it, but today is one such day.

even loading this damn blog to write into it took ages...

sometimes when things seem wrong, or just sucky (sucky dun necessarily mean wrong..) it's good to try to focus on good things. so what good happened today?

thanx to natalie for popping by to sign the contract for her wedding in december. you're the only human i saw today, and you gave me money! (thanx to ead for referring her too btw!!)

so yeah, see, one good thing, focus on that.

on another note, everyone's asking who 1179 is.. it's her name lar, last time during (numeric only) pager days, cannot use letters so write in numbers lor...

eh.. 13 years ago leh, what do u expect?!? =P

happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts

Sunday, October 14, 2007

A simple sms...

"I still think your love for me thirteen years back was the purest."

I seldom get smses that confounds me, as I never thought smses could hold that much content within a few words.

But that one did.

I am happy you think that way, perhaps a little sad that it was in the past, and definitely hoping, for your sake, that it will not hold true forever. Because if it does, you will never feel such love again, and you definitely deserve much more than what you have now.

Happy Birthday 1179. =)

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Aural Orgasm

Monday, October 08, 2007

CTR test drive in perth..

all i can say is... BUY!

not much of a review is it? well, go tell kah motors that, in sg pple buy this car without being allowed to test drive..



ukay and i drove it, took turns to do the filming on my ricoh. =)

Perth Bridals

Some random shots for now:











Sunday, October 07, 2007

Perth - random pics

It's been such a great trip, tiring as well. here are some random shots, bridal ones will come later. =)





























more here!